Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-01
J A PANIC-sTRICKEN GROWN
Fire at Palatka's Opera House
Causes Fearful Stampede.

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From the Palatea Fld.) Netos.
The Opera House was crowdedIW ednes-
day night with probably the largest audi
ence that was ever in the building, to at
Y tend the performance OF BaIrd's Ministries,
when, just after the opening overture,
and while the contortionist was exhibit
ing his feats. the audience noticed bright
ight issuing from the wings of the stage,
" thinking 1t was to be thrown on the
hprtionist to give dramatic effect to
barful twisting, when bucket of
was thrown over the blaze, which
he first intimation the audience had
%2E8e building was on fire.
I'd III Xkcene that followed was terrible,
TX LII TkW.t the power of description. The
d$<a3z3 uys 5eople rose to their feet as one
fson. Women began to scream, chill
= |ren to cry, and men became panic
kaicken. A fearful rush was made for
stairway, and Notwithstanding the
>H6rts OF a few cool-headed men and the
: performers on the stage to quiet the
rushed out so crowded, packed
and jammed together that the only
wonder is that some of them were not
trampled to death. But aside from few
bruises we learned of no one being hurt,
IND the most damage done was the fright
Eiven the people. The fearful fires Pa
atka has recently passed through, where
Came buildings like the Opera House
ave been burned in few minutes,
served to further terrIfy the people, and
at such time and amid such scenes it is
no wonder that stout hearts quailed
and that women were terrified. When
the excitement was at the high
est pitch and the greater part of
the audience was crowded about the
stairway, the gas metre was turned of,
! and the people left in total darkness.
The rush for the stairs was kept up, aud
their cheeks blanched as they realized the
danger the women and children were sub
jected to in being crushed and trampled.
When lamps were lit and 1t was seen that
the fire had been eXtlngushed the people
! -regained their self-contrOl, land the greater
Apart made their way quietly to the street.
sost of the ladies and their escorts made
lkir way home badly frightened but not
b hurt.
M e fire originated from a adjective gas
ne in the ceiling over the stage. Mr..
Baird, the proprietor of the minstrel show,
and the members of the troupe smelt
(he escaping gas, aud thought it came
Irom the metre, and were looking around
for it when the flame burst out. Every
thing possible was done by those on the
stage to smother the flames, but to no
avail, as the wood work was blazing and
there was no way to control the escaping
gas. But little damage, however, was
done to the building by the fire, but the
: way the chairs in the hall were smashed
was a sight to behold.
There were many cool men in the audi
ence, but no one did more to quiet the
kpanic than Maj. G. p. Healy, who stood
'snear the stairway and cautioned all to
! take time and keep quiet, assuring them
! that there was plenty of time TO get out Of
! the building. Alter quiet had been re-
stored and the hall re-lit the performance
was resumed.
\ Mr.. Baird had his money bag knocked
\down the steps by the crowd, and $37 in
liver was scattered on the stairway. and
vas picked up by whoever took time to
botice them. This gentleman regrets the
accident very much, and did verything
ln his power to prevent the rush.